By all practical standards if I live a normal life, at the current age of 45 years, I’m at or past middle age. Maybe it doesn’t happen to everyone like this, but my middle age crisis has caused me to reflect on life thus far… (Certainly better than some crises I have heard)
This is a powerful video in terms of the impact of social media in our society. Thanks to my friend Scott Williams for sharing it with me first.
We have had a busy season at Grace Community Church. Fall is the time of year when most churches ramp up their ministries, which tracks with back-to-school schedules and the change to cooler weather. Our church has been in a fast growth mode since day one, but we seem to be in a unique place of extraordinary growth right now. In addition to this growth we are launching new small groups, a college ministry, gearing up for our annual community outreach ministry, and adding a third service, along with numerous other changes occurring this fall, some that we are not ready to talk about yet. Some days it seems we have just enough energy to get through another week and all our time is focused on the next Sunday.
When I meet with people who have made mistakes in life in my role as a pastor, I am always less concerned with where they have been or what they have done wrong. I am always more concerned with where they want to go in life and how dedicated they are to get there. My dad is an example of someone that wants to end well. I believe his legacy will prove he achieved his goal.
I am trying to do a leadership perception survey. I have been in leadership positions for over 20 years, but part of this time I have also had a leader to whom I reported. Recently I have been working with some churches and businesses facing leadership issues and problems. From my observation, many times the problem is the different perception of leadership and what a leader should or shouldn’t do between leaders and followers.
In the midst of an incredibly huge decision recently I happened one morning to read 1 Kings 12. I love when God points me to the exact Scripture I need at the moment.
As a suggestion from a reader, I am adding more links to my blog. I am using the following criteria
I heard today that Wal Mart is getting rid of paper paychecks. Instead employees will receive a debit card as payment, if they refuse direct deposit. You can read more about it HERE.
A few weeks ago, in preparing a message for Grace Community Church in which I celebrated the victories we have seen in the last year at Grace, God convicted me for my line of thinking. I was preparing to remind people of the strategy of the church, as we do at the beginning of each new fall season, to encourage them to continue giving their time and resources to further the vision. I believe God gently reminded me that apart from Him, we would have no vision and we would certainly have no success.
As our staff and church has grown, my role is changing. I spend much more of my day interacting with staff members about their particular area of focus. Lately it seems I am saying a lot of, “Let me connect you with _________”, as I refer people to another person on our team.
